PCA Magazine Show Issue 2021

44 PCA The Magazine | SHOW 2021 PREMIUMCIGARS.ORG PCA: How did you develop your blending skills? Were you self-taught? DG: My blending experience came fromyears of smoking Eduardo’s tobacco, under the tutelage of Arsenio Ramos, a Cuban farmer who was a tobacco savant, and had a palate second to none. He came to work for Eduardo shortly after Fernandez acquired the operations in Nicaragua. Somy knowledge came through roundtable discussions with Eduardo and Arsenio, along with others, that went well on into the night about tobacco, and the specific characteristics of the two types Eduardo grows, Criollo ’98 and Corojo ’99, along with a few other experimental types over the years. PCA: How did you put that information into practice in order to create your own unique blends? DG: Listening a lot, andmainly putting tobaccos together to see how they performwithin the context of a blend was key. PCA: Your cigars are composed of tobaccos exclusively from Aganorsa. You didn’t feel the need to buy leaf from various growers to achieve the balance and complexity you were seeking to create? DG: The thing about Eduardo’s tobacco is that he grows in so many regions inNicaragua that they create such a variety of flavors, tastes and aromas. We can blend and never get bored or stuck on a particular path when blending cigars. I’m in a very unique situation in that I basically have carte blanche to do whatever I want within his operation, be it tobacco selection to fabrication techniques. Eduardo is very trusting and has givenme all the tools I need to freely operate. I’mvery thankful for the opportunity. PCA: Haven’t you also been inspired by Hendrik Kelner, the renowned maker of Davidoff cigars? DG: He is a huge influence. I went on a factory trip to the DR and saw what Davidoff does from seed to shop, and it left such an impression onme that I wanted to learnmore. There isn’t anyone quite like him in the industry. By smoking his cigars I’mable to experience the artist behind his creations. I’ve used his blending techniques time and again to achieve the philosophical, sensory, physical and subconscious reactions we all experience through great blends. PCA: Didn’t Pete Johnson help you at the beginning—first by helping you acquire your first production run of cigars, and later by allowing you to distribute samples in his trade show booth? DG: Yes, Pete gaveme a small area in his booth to show offmy product. I had around 50 retailers by then when GregMottola from Cigar Aficionado came by and started asking questions. He then asked me to send samples to be vertically rated in Cigar Insider. All 11 of the Illusione “Original Documents” rated 90 points or higher. It was the highest rating they’ve ever done for a company. PCA: Let’s talk about your philosophy of blending. You have a very definitive approach, starting with what you call “the dirt.” “It’s using these tobaccos in the correct way within the blend that you can achieve such variety.” A N I N T E R V I E W W I T H D I O N G I O L I T O